College basketball: Marietta College men win, women fall

December 10, 2012

Marietta College may be shooting extra free-throws in practice this week.

The Lady Pioneers converted just 13 of 25 from the charity stripe in a 66-61 setback to visiting Wilmington College in Ohio Athletic Conference action at Ban Johnson Arena Saturday.

"It came down to small details and execution," said first-year MC head women's basketball coach Stacia Shrider. "If we could've made our free- throws, we would've won. If we could've executed a little bit better defensively...just minor detail things that added up. We've got to make those adjustments and pay attention to details, and move on to the next one."

Marietta (4-4 overall, 0-2 OAC) was paced by Heather Booth, who scored all 14 of her points on five of five from the floor in the second half. Paige Lamb added 10 markers, and Candice Alexander and Tori Dixon chipped in with nine and eight apiece, respectively.

"It's a very tough loss," said Lamb, who was making her first start of the season. "We were right there, and everything that we do is a team effort. We've just got to execute a little bit better.

"I thought we played really well as a team, and we're right there. We're on the brink. Free-throws were a big thing. If we'd made them, we'd be up."

Wilmington was led by 6-foot senior pivot player Brianna Peters, who tallied a game-high 17 points, 15 in the first half. Overall, the Lady Quakers outpointed the Lady Pioneer bench, 24-15.

The contest featured 11 lead changes and three ties.

During first-half action, Booth, the team's leading scorer on the season, picked up two quick personal fouls early and sat for almost 18 minutes. But the MC pine filled in nicely for the former Frontier standout, and kept the game close.

"We made adjustments and the other kids stepped up when they needed to," Shrider said. "That's what we're about. We're still a team. Yes, we want Heather to play more minutes, but other people have to step up and know when it's their time to."

Sparked by Peters' 15 points, Wilmington led 40-34 at halftime. During the opening 20 minutes, the Lady Quakers' biggest advantage was 39-32 at the 1:31 mark.

"We wanted to front her (Peters) the whole game," Shrider said. "But we just weren't doing a good job of getting in front of her that first half. Then our weak-side help wasn't available, but we made adjustments at halftime, and made sure that weak-side guard was there in the paint ready to help if they lobbed it in - and forced some steals and got some turnovers out of it, too."

Earlier, Marietta had a four-point lead at the 8:54 mark.

After the break, Wilmington extended its advantage to double digits, 51-41, on Spencer Robies' three-pointer with a little less than 13 minutes remaining in the game.

But Marietta rallied and countered with a 15-4 run to take a 56-55 lead on Sierra Sigman's layup at the 6:31 mark. During the surge, Booth, who had the hot hand, scored nine points.

"Heather dominated the second half," Lamb said. "I can't imagine what she would've done in the first."

Said Shrider, "We have to learn how to keep that lead. We're still young."

Wilmington regained the advantage 58-56 when non-starter Shelby Kies converted three consecutive freebies after being fouled on a trey attempt. MC tied it, though, when Lindsay Deemer passed to Lamb for an uncontested layup.

After Peters made a layup, her only points in the second half, to make it 60-58, Wilmington never looked back. Marietta cut it to two, 63-61, on Booth's two freebies with under a minute left, but that's as close as the home team would get.

Courtney Tucker's late drive and score, and one freebie by Robies kept the Lady Pioneers at bay.

"We'll bounce back," Lamb said. "We will. No doubt in my mind."

Marietta is scheduled to play at Heidelberg University at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Men

Marietta College 64, Wilmington 57

WILMINGTON - Marietta College held host Wilmington College to less than 35 percent shooting from the floor on Saturday and improved to 2-0 in Ohio Athletic Conference action by posting a 64-57 victory.

Tyler Hammond scored 15 points, J.J. Martin had a dozen and Jacob Owens contributed 14 markers off the bench for the Pioneers, who improved to 5-2 overall.